Can-Am Connection
Encyclopedia
The Can
-Am
Connection was a tag team
composed of Rick Martel
and Tom Zenk
in the World Wrestling Federation
(WWF) through 1986 and 1987.
returned to the WWF with his then tag team
partner, the American Tom Zenk
, as the Can-Am Connection. The Can-Am Connection had been formed by Martel in the Montreal
International Wrestling Association in 1986. Tom Zenk was the boyfriend of Martel's sister-in-law, and had been introduced to Martel in the AWA
by Curt Hennig
.
The team made their televised debut in WWF on the November 15, 1986 episode of Superstars
against the team of Steve Lombardi
and Moondog Spot
which they won. The Can Am Connection contested a series of matches with former tag-team champions The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake
and Greg Valentine
), the team of Kamala and Sika, and the team of Magnificent Muraco
and "Ace" Cowboy Bob Orton, whom they would face and defeat at WrestleMania III
. The Can Am Connection's last feud would be against The Islanders, a feud that began on WWF Superstars of Wrestling
in the summer of 1987. In this match, the Islanders turned heel
by revealing their association with manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
.
Shortly after this match Tom Zenk left the WWF due to a pay dispute, wrestling their last match together on July 9, 1987 against the Islanders. To this day Tom Zenk and Rick Martel have differing opinions on the matter of why Tom Zenk left the WWF, all but eliminating the chance of a Can-Am Connection reunion.
to tackle the Polynesian duo, spinning the ill fated Can-Am Connection off to Strike Force who went on to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-Am
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Connection was a tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
composed of Rick Martel
Rick Martel
Richard Vigneault is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel...
and Tom Zenk
Tom Zenk
Thomas Erwin "Tom" Zenk is a former Mr. Minnesota Bodybuilder, and most notably a American professional wrestler, also known by his nickname Z-Man.-Early career:...
in the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF) through 1986 and 1987.
History
In 1986, the Canadian Rick MartelRick Martel
Richard Vigneault is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel...
returned to the WWF with his then tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
partner, the American Tom Zenk
Tom Zenk
Thomas Erwin "Tom" Zenk is a former Mr. Minnesota Bodybuilder, and most notably a American professional wrestler, also known by his nickname Z-Man.-Early career:...
, as the Can-Am Connection. The Can-Am Connection had been formed by Martel in the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
International Wrestling Association in 1986. Tom Zenk was the boyfriend of Martel's sister-in-law, and had been introduced to Martel in the AWA
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
by Curt Hennig
Curt Hennig
Curtis Michael "Curt" Hennig , also known by the ring name Mr. Perfect, was an American professional wrestler, manager and color commentator who worked for, among other promotions, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World...
.
The team made their televised debut in WWF on the November 15, 1986 episode of Superstars
WWF Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It debuted on September 6, 1986...
against the team of Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi is an Italian American professional wrestler, and road agent. He is also known by his ring name Brooklyn Brawler...
and Moondog Spot
Moondogs
The Moondogs were a professional wrestling stable in the World Wrestling Federation and in two Memphis promotions: the Continental Wrestling Association and the United States Wrestling Association...
which they won. The Can Am Connection contested a series of matches with former tag-team champions The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake
Edward Leslie
Edward Harrison "Ed" Leslie is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Brutus The Barber Beefcake. He later worked for World Championship Wrestling under a variety of names, mainly as "The Disciple" of real-life best friend...
and Greg Valentine
Greg Valentine
John Wisniski, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine.-Training:...
), the team of Kamala and Sika, and the team of Magnificent Muraco
Don Muraco
Donald Muraco , better known by his ring name "The Rock" Don Muraco, is a retired American professional wrestler...
and "Ace" Cowboy Bob Orton, whom they would face and defeat at WrestleMania III
WrestleMania III
WrestleMania III was the third annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . The event was held on March 29, 1987 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan....
. The Can Am Connection's last feud would be against The Islanders, a feud that began on WWF Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It debuted on September 6, 1986...
in the summer of 1987. In this match, the Islanders turned heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
by revealing their association with manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Bobby Heenan
Raymond Louis "Ray" Heenan , better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan , is a former American professional wrestling manager and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation...
.
Shortly after this match Tom Zenk left the WWF due to a pay dispute, wrestling their last match together on July 9, 1987 against the Islanders. To this day Tom Zenk and Rick Martel have differing opinions on the matter of why Tom Zenk left the WWF, all but eliminating the chance of a Can-Am Connection reunion.
The Spinoff
When Zenk left Martel initially carried on the feud with the Islanders on his own but was soon paired up with Tito SantanaTito Santana
Merced Solis better known by his ring name Tito Santana, is an American professional wrestler whose heyday spanned from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, though he continues to appear on the independent circuit. He is best known from his time in the World Wrestling Federation...
to tackle the Polynesian duo, spinning the ill fated Can-Am Connection off to Strike Force who went on to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship.